What we do

Background

Sexual Exploitation Service

The Barnardo's Young Women's Project is based in North London and facilitates 1-2-1 work with young women up to the age of 18 who are at risk of, or who are being abused through Sexual Exploitation. The young women we work with are referred through Social Services and reside in one of the following 4 boroughs; Camden, Hackney, Haringey and Islington.

Referral Process

• Telephone call to Barnardo's to highlight the concerns, seek advice and request a referral form
• Convene a Multi-Agency Planning meeting (MAP) under the Sexual Exploitation Protocols
• Send the referral form and MAP invitation to Barnardo's (Camden staff please use eCAF)
• Barnardo's worker and other involved professionals to attend MAP meeting to ascertain risk of Sexual Exploitation
• If risk indicators are met and the young person is referred, they will be allocated a worker based on level on level of risk and worker capacity.

Missing Service

We have a dedicated practioner who works with young women who go missing and live in the Borough of Camden. Referrals for this work come via the Metropolitan Police Missing Persons Unit. There is a focus on short term pieces of work raising awareness of risk and addressing reasons for going missing. Young women are somtimes referred on to our Sexual Exploitation service and can access our sexual health nurse.

Sexual Health Service

There is a sexual health nurse attached to the project who also works at the Archway Sexual Health Clinic. She can be contacted at the project at the following times;

• Monday 1.30pm - 5.30pm for drop in sexual health appointments
• Tuesday 10am - 6pm when she is available for outreach work
• Wednesday 1.30pm-6.00pm for sexual health appointments for young women referred to the service

Young women can access the nurse for free condoms, contraception (including emergency contraception) pregnancy testing and advice about abortion/termination. The nurse also provides Sexual Health advice and testing for Chlamydia, HIV, Hepatitis B & Syphilis as well as advice about other sexually transmitted infections.

London Councils

Between 2008-12, Barnardo's Young Women's Project is being funded by London Councils to provide a prevention education programme on sexual exploitation in every London borough. This programme will include training for professional and group work for young people in schools, residential units and pupil referral units, using hte 'BWise2 Sexual Exploitation' resource.

For further information or to nominate a setting for group work/training please email katherine.barnes@barnardos.org.uk.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the BWise2 pack please visit the Barnardo's BWise2 web page.